Eugenia ramiflora Desv. ex Ham.

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett. 1969. The botany of the Guayana Highland-part VIII. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 18: 1-290.

  • Family

    Myrtaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Eugenia ramiflora Desv. ex Ham.

  • Discussion

    Eugenia brachypodaDCDCProdr. 3: 274. 1828.

    Eugenia fulvipes Sagot, Ann.Sci.Nat. VI. 20 189 1885

    The identity of this species, which had been long in doubt, was clarified by Amshoff (cf Buh. Torrey Club 75: 535. 1948), who examined the types of Eugenia ramiflora and those of the others listed above in synonymy. I have since confirmed her observations. In the Flora of Suriname, although E. ramiflora is described fully, some of the data are apparently drawn from specimens of E. omissa, e.g., Lanjouw & Lindeman 2134, cited as E. ramiflora. A description of E. ramiflora follows:

    Tree to 8 m high, the branchlets, inflorescences and lower leaf-surfaces cottonytomentose with very fine pale rusty-red hairs, these permanently covering the hypanthium, pedicels, bracteoles and most of the outer surface of the calyx-lobes, but except for traces soon disappearing from the leaves; leaves acuminate, the midvein smoothly convex or somewhat wrinkled above, the lateral veins elevated and rather prominent beneath, the marginal vein prominent beneath, arched, and well within (2-6 m m from) the margin; flowers 2-6 together in small sessile umbel-like clusters; buds about 5 m m long, the calyx-lobes and bracteoles appressed in the bud; hypanthium about 2 m m long, almost or quite covered by the pointed tomentose connate bracteoles; fruit about 1 cm in diam, probably red.

    Eugenia ramiflora Desv. var montana Amsh. (Bull. Torrey Club 75: 535. 1948) based on Maguire 24481, from an elevation of 725 m on the Tafelberg, Suriname, is in m y opinion only doubtfully conspecific with E. ramiflora var ramiflora. The leaves are very narrow, 1.3-2.5 cm wide (as compared to 2.5-6 cm wide in E. ramiflora var ramiflora) and narrowly long-acuminate; the lateral veins are numerous and parallel (up to 35 or more in Steyermark 90325, as against 12-16 in E. ramiflora var ramiflora), and the marginal vein is nearly straight, parallel to the margin and hardly ever more than 1 m m within it. The veins are relatively inconspicuous beneath, suggesting in this respect E. ferreiraeana; Amshoff has already remarked on the similarities between E. ramiflora and E. ferreiraeana, and it m a y be this narrowleaved submontane plant is another part of the same complex. I should refer the fohowing additional specimen to E. ramiflora var montana: \'ENEZUELA. Bolivar: Sierra Ichun, near Salto INIaria Espuma in Rio Ichun (trib. of Rio Paragua), elev 500 m, 28 Dec 1961 (fl), Steyermark 90325 ( M I C H ).